CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., Jan 27 (Reuters) - A robotic Japanese
cargo ship reached the International Space Station on Thursday,
the first of a quartet of spaceships due to arrive at the
orbital outpost over the next month.

The ship, laden with supplies, science equipment and spare
parts, is the second from Japan to dock at the station.

Its arrival boosted confidence that supply lines to the
$100 billion outpost, a project of 16 nations, will remain
fully operational after NASA retires its space shuttle fleet
in about six months.

Japan's HTV-2 spacecraft, Europe's Automated Transfer
Vehicles and Russian Progress capsules will become the
station's lifelines after two or three more space shuttle
flights.

The shuttle program is ending after 30 years due to high
operating costs and to free up funds to develop U.S. spaceships
that can travel beyond the station's orbit 220 miles (355 km)
above Earth.
Continued...